Monday, 7th January, 2104.


"I call dibs on the master bedroom!"

"I did that long before we arrived, Laur!"

"Awww, you're no fun, Cora!"

"You sure about that?" I look around the room with a grin, "You wouldn't have wanted the master room anyway, it's not even your colour!"

The walls are a pleasant, eye-soothing mid-tone green. In front of me and off to the right is the king-sized double bed, lengthways to a window showing off the freshly soaked backyard. On the bed, I've laid my old rider's bow and a new quiver with arrows from the twins - things I didn't think I'd pack to bring but still did.

Someday my old friend, I'll get back to you. Someday.

A small display shelf is above my bed on the right wall, with a few books and a peculiar glass bottle sitting there. Close to the doorframe on my left, there's a set of three drawers with a framed photo on the top. Either dad wanted some authenticity to the place or the twins were being silly again, because those drawers are partially filled with clothes already: complete replicas of what the old Gold great-great-grandpa wore in his days.

"Dad must be off his rocker to have these in here, if he did ask for this…"

On the right wall, there's two doors leading to an ensuite bathroom and a walk-in-wardrobe respectively, though I don't think the original Edward had such luxuries. (Well, that and Holodoors didn't exist back then.) I take the chance to throw my luggage into the walk-in wardrobe and put it out of mind for at least a few hours.

To the left wall, there's a desk with an old-fashioned desktop computer system and a few shelves to store a couple of things. A large glass door cabinet stands next to that, mostly barren except for one shelf totally filled with books – Edward I's sketchbooks upon closer inspection.

There's a note from the twins also:

Cora, if it's you staying in here (which I'm pretty sure it is), this is just a heads up if you want to flip through the sketchbooks. Having looked through them myself, ya boi Edward I was not a mature person. -Ell.

Oh dear.

By the way, check the attic. It's where we found the sketchbooks. -Ed.

The attic?

"Oh my goodness, you have to check out the attic!"

The attic.


Emily's attic bedroom is a treasure trove of relics.

Whilst her bed and ensuite are off to the far wall (good thing she has the latter), the wall next to the entryway has shelves decked out with memorabilia which I'm starting to recognise from the family tales. Microphones, TV sets, guitars, books, the list goes on and on.

"Ooh hey, a vintage copy of Space Cats: The Movie!" I notice, picking up the ancient DVD case and popping it open, "Didn't Laurie's namesake have a main role in Thomas the First's film?"

"Wasn't it a shoe who directed it or something?" Em points out, "Though it sounds totally ridiculous. I doubt that part happened."

"Well, whoever directed it, I hope my namesake wasn't in it." My little sister huffs, "The film turned out to be a complete flop – I'd rather that Laurel be known for something decent."

"Oh Laur," I elbow her, "Always the classic Richwell film critic of us Golds."

"Hey!"

"Aw, she even has that tiny hint of Hartgrace narcissism!"

"Emilyyyy!"

"I'm only joking, Laur! Honestly though, with all these photos of Matthew the First up here, I'm not surprised the Hartgraces are known for vanity. I'll have to take most, if not all of them down if I want to feel comfortable here."

Well, she's not lying. On both counts - old Matthew's narcissism is getting to me and he isn't even here.

Beep beep!

"Oh, completely forgot about the notifications," Laurie mumbles, pulling up her holoscreens, "Gugh, where from this time?"

"Hey, didn't know you read the news, Laur," I remark, noticing the slide that pops up immediately, the front-page article looking… Interesting.

"I don't do that, it's just the default home screen- 'Former Inventor Rises to Judicial power?'"

Even Em raises an eyebrow.

"What does that mean?"

"Don't know. Let's see."

The Daily Blarh, 6th January, 2104.
Former Inventor Rises to Judicial Power
Under mysterious circumstances, the former founder and CEO of the inventing and engineering company, Phoenix Industries, has ruthlessly risen to one of the highest ranks in the legal world. With Sidney McCoy poised to take on the case that tainted his former career, Tony Rees dives in to untangle the mystery.

Apart from an iteration of his grandfather's side-do and love of 20th-century Rock & Roll, the once starry-eyed founder and CEO of Phoenix Industries was a complete opposite to one of the most feared military leaders of the United States of America.

After an illegal drug mafia's fundings were discovered to be connected to Phoenix, McCoy instantly shut down his multi-quintillion enterprise, denying participation of the smuggling and clearly distraught, according to inside sources.

This was merely nine months ago.

Since then, he has strangely managed to undertake and pass high legal studies within this time, now prepared to act as judge, lawyer and defendant altogether, at the case that shattered his company, appropriately named Firebird vs Pepper.

The once ecstatic and joyful McCoy now looked gravely stoic as he walked into the courthouse, a similar-looking relative dressed in black by his side…

"Aww, there's a subscription box at the bottom," Laurie laments, "It was getting really interesting!"

"Sounds like a revenge thing to me," Em frowns.

"Nine months?" I wonder aloud, "How can this guy learn law and come out a judge and lawyer in nine months?!"

"There's something off about that Sidney fellow," Em agrees, "Wouldn't be surprised if he and his terrible hairstyle come back up. Was he trying to dye his hair black?"

"Not a bad gradient thing from the tips of his hair, if that's what he's going for." I shrug.

"But black with dirty blonde?" Laur shakes her head, "What is he trying to become, a bee version of Elvis or something?"

"Bee Elvis!" I actually burst into loud snorting giggles, "Oh my god, Laurie! I hate that you're right!"

"Please don't think about what could come from it," Em shakes her head, "You have to spare him the dignity!"

Heh, Barry Bee Belvis.

"Moving away from Bee Elvis," Laurie sighs in that anyway Richwells tone, "I found my bedroom before Em called us up."

"Oh?"


My sister's room reminds me of the TARDIS: big and blue.

To the immediate left, there's a coatrack on it, already with a puffy hooded coat, waiting for a snow day. Next to that and going forward, a decently sized in-built closet has Laur's luggage in it already. The right side of the room has her bed, already covered with her cutesy space-themed bedsheets. Two bedside tables sit on either side of it, a small framed photo on the wall completing the setup.

"The bathroom's a fair bit away from here since there's no ensuite," Laur sighs, "Can't believe Thomas lived like this…"

"Not everyone has the luxury of an ensuite, Laur." I shake my head, "Also, how'd you know this was his bedroom?"

Laur gives me that 'camera on The Office' look while pointing at the picture frame.

"Oh."

"Oh dear!" Em giggles.

It's a photo of Thorfrid Lawson the First, but there's insulting black marker doodles on it, with the classic moustache, devil horns and fart lines.

"I'm surprised our heritage even comes from these two…" I shake my head, remembering the tales of intense rivalry between Thomas I and Thorfrid I.

"Y'know," Laur frowns, walking to it, "I don't like that photo, honestly. I'd rather have it- what the-"

There's another framed photo underneath, this one of a big red danger button.

"Why would anyone have that on the wall, let alone Thomas?"

Laur's as confused as I'm feeling.

"Maybe he had an acquired taste of humour?" Em suggests.

"Probably," Laur tosses away the first frame on the bed before grabbing the second one, "But this picture freaks me out too- whoa!"

That's not a framed photo under the framed photo.


Laurie grips onto the red-knobbed lever with wide eyes, but she's hesitating.

"What are you waiting for?"

"What if something bad is gonna happen, Cor? What if I unleash a giant robot that could take over the world?"

"Pff, don't be silly," I roll my eyes, "That only happens in over-the-top dramatic season finales in webshows. There's absolutely no possible way there'd be a giant robot to be unleashed under the house."

"I'm with Cor on this one," Em nods, "Besides, if it really were the case, you could hack into that hunk of junk and deactivate it within a minute."

"I suppose you're right…"

Laurie pulls the lever.

A wall rises up.

Her room is a TARDIS: blue and bigger on the inside.


"Oh, my god!" Laurie gasps, "An entire hidden room all for me to use! Finally, a place where I can keep all my holos instead of taking my entire setup with me!"

"Y'know Cor," Em shares a look with me, "This place doesn't look like a Richwells room."

"Agreed. No way would Thomas have this right next to his room and hidden for no good reason."

An empty rack on the side has a note that says, 'not a gun rack' (though based on the dust silhouettes, I doubt otherwise). There's a whole bunch of old tech around the lab with buttons on it (well, I think it's a lab). A set of three framed photos are on a right-hand-side locker, one of them seems reminiscent of Jasper.

"The Richwells' aren't really science or tech-motivated people… This looks more, well… Lawson-y."

"What about your mum then? With her qualifications in High Physics and Chemistry?"

"She's a Richwells-Hartgrace, that's different!" I protest, "Helps with the drinks production!" Emily still chuckles.

"Well, wherever she gets it from, good thing it's passed to Laurie. Then Laur can keep an eye on all the house systems to avoid the glitches!"

I shut up.


AN: So! That's the first two chapters of The Eagle's Cross released!

I'll see you not next Friday, but the Friday after for chapter three. Stay safe everyone!